| To conclude this section may we just add | | | | From what we have said so far, it may be |
| that Newton's subjects emphasize | | | | surmised that there are various forms of |
| strongly that God is never once seen in | | | | death, and this is true. St. Paul hints |
| the higher realms, although a strong | | | | of this when he declared, "I die daily" |
| feeling of a Supreme Power is felt | | | | (I Cor 15:31). We tabulate the forms of |
| ruling the ongoings of devachan, or | | | | death in the following: |
| "heaven," and the kinetic motion of | | | | 1) Death to higher realities and |
| magnetic streams of energy flowing in | | | | verities |
| the atmosphere and environment. This | | | | 2) Death to a higher awareness of |
| truth denounces certain religious | | | | divinity |
| beliefs that in heaven one would finally | | | | 3) Death of one's slumber in matter |
| see God face to face--for while on earth | | | | 4) Death of the false ego and its |
| one may not see God's face and live, one | | | | carnal, self-centered desires |
| would surely behold God's countenance in | | | | 5) Death of sleep |
| heaven. This principle has been | | | | 6) Death of the physical and etheric |
| vmisunderstood and misinterpreted for | | | | bodies |
| the past two thousand years; it should | | | | 7) Death of the astral body |
| actually be understood in a mystical | | | | 8) Death of the mental form |
| rather than in a literal manner. It | | | | We will briefly describe each one: death |
| reminds us of Gautama Buddha's silence | | | | to higher realities and verities, and |
| when questioned about God--the | | | | the death to higher awareness of |
| implication of his subtle answer | | | | divinity are related. This is in fact |
| revealing a profound truth to the | | | | the involutionary path of the soul as it |
| initiated. | | | | descends for the first time in a new |
| Summarizing the scientific viewpoint on | | | | cycle of manifestation, or "manvantara." |
| death and the afterlife--based on years | | | | In involution the soul loses a certain |
| of careful psychical, parapsychological | | | | awareness only to regain it with an |
| research--the following conclusions have | | | | enhancement during the Path of Return. |
| been reached: | | | | Most souls prolong this period of |
| 1) That humans are essentially | | | | ignorance and awareness of higher |
| immaterial in nature and that the human | | | | multidimensional truths by their own |
| essence, or self-awareness, survives | | | | free-will. |
| physical death. | | | | Death of one's slumber in matter is the |
| 2) That human soul-units exist at | | | | awakening of the soul's aspiration to |
| differentiated levels of awareness in | | | | spiritual possibilities--paradoxically, |
| dimensions beyond the physical | | | | it could also mean being spiritually |
| light-spectrum, beyond the reach of | | | | unconscious; this is followed by the |
| physical sensory perception. | | | | death, or transcendence of the false ego |
| 3) That contact with departed souls is a | | | | and its expressions in the movement |
| possible feat under certain conditions | | | | within the evolutionary spiral. The |
| and circumstances. | | | | death of sleep occurs every night as the |
| 4) That all human soul-units | | | | soul takes flight to subtle worlds. |
| periodically re-embody or reincarnate to | | | | Death of the physical and etheric bodies |
| continue their evolution. | | | | occur when one leaves the present |
| 5) That all re-embody according to the | | | | incarnation for the astral world. This |
| law of causation, or karma; or soul | | | | is followed by the deaths of the astral |
| desire. | | | | and mental forms as the soul rises |
| DISCUSSIONS | | | | higher and higher to rest for a period |
| As we have seen in the previous chapter, | | | | in the causal body before preparing to |
| death according to the various | | | | reincarnate. |
| traditions, metaphysical experiences and | | | | Knowledge of the nature of death and the |
| modern scientific discoveries, does not | | | | other worlds are important subjects for |
| annihilate the human soul; and | | | | every metaphysician. As said earlier in |
| relationships formed on the physical | | | | this paper, in the course of one's |
| plane do not cease at the termination of | | | | metaphysical ministry, one would often |
| one's incarnation, as is normally | | | | encounter individuals in bereavement |
| believed; also, one's aspirations, goals | | | | requiring comfort and solace. Equipped |
| and ambitions, though simply and | | | | with a higher understanding of the |
| seemingly cut-short prematurely at a | | | | nature of death and the purpose of life, |
| stroke of the scythe by the grim reaper | | | | metaphysicians are in a better position |
| called death, is actually brought over | | | | to enlighten humanity, and to fulfill |
| to the Otherside for a further strategic | | | | one of their functions as ministers. To |
| development that would bloom in a later | | | | Catholics, administering the "Extreme |
| incarnation. We have also seen that the | | | | Unction," or the last sacrament to the |
| nature of death and the afterlife can be | | | | dying may be considered vital. But to |
| known to those who are willing to | | | | the metaphysician, much more is required |
| develop the necessary sensory faculties | | | | to guide the soul through the dying |
| of the astral form and its ability of | | | | process. With the appropriate knowledge |
| soul-flight. Additionally, we have dealt | | | | and occult ability, the metaphysician |
| somewhat of the nature of heaven and | | | | may assist souls in making a more |
| hell, including the Judgment, from the | | | | meaningful transition. Deathbed-rites of |
| various metaphysical, religious and | | | | an occult formula and design, taking the |
| scientific perspectives. We have | | | | bardo into consideration, are needed by |
| described and hinted of some of the ways | | | | those engaged in the metaphysical field. |
| and means of avoiding those undesired | | | | The importance and purpose of life |
| experiences, states and conditions to be | | | | should be appended and stressed in those |
| found in the bardo, and even in the | | | | rites as a lesson not only for the |
| lower astral. Non-attachment to the | | | | departed, but for those who are left |
| physical form and earthly life is | | | | behind. An experience of a loss of a |
| helpful in the process of a peaceful and | | | | beloved one through the portals of death |
| easy transition, and in a smooth journey | | | | on the part of grieving and confused |
| through the bardo--this ought to be kept | | | | individuals should be looked upon by |
| in mind. And lastly, with the | | | | metaphysicians as opportunities for the |
| descriptions by subjects of NDEs and | | | | sowing of the seeds of truth into their |
| communications from the beyond | | | | receptive consciousness. Metaphysicians |
| concerning the death process, we can be | | | | as farmers in the vineyard of truth |
| assured that dying does not have to | | | | should play their part perfectly. By |
| entail any mental, emotional or physical | | | | offering various truths concerning the |
| agony; on the contrary, it may result in | | | | nature of death-truths that are |
| one of the most joyful states that | | | | rational, logical, helpful and |
| average souls may experience at its | | | | spiritually stimulating--we improve the |
| present evolutionary level. It provides | | | | whole image of the metaphysical ministry |
| a certain pre-taste of what the nirvanic | | | | in the minds of the public. The more |
| state is like when once the soul is | | | | metaphysicians have to offer to the |
| liberated and fully aware of its divine | | | | public as to occult and esoteric |
| unity with All That Is. | | | | knowledge and as to the expressions of |
| Humans may fear death, but "being dead" | | | | their high psychism, the more will the |
| is actually the present state of | | | | public's awareness be stirred and lifted |
| awareness of most people. To be unaware | | | | to a higher plane of consciousness. |
| of one's higher microcosmic principles | | | | Metaphysics as a synthesis of religious, |
| is simply a consciousness of death. What | | | | spiritual, philosophical, and scientific |
| separates the seen from the unseen is | | | | truths has the capacity to offer what |
| the level of one's waking consciousness, | | | | traditional forms of religion, science |
| and the psychological impurities within | | | | and modern philosophies are incapable of |
| one's subconscious mind. There are | | | | offering--that is, real help. |
| several components in the microcosm | | | | SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS |
| making up what we call the divine, human | | | | In the Introduction of this paper we |
| being. The more components we are aware | | | | presented the purpose and the need of |
| and conscious of, the more alive we | | | | why this subject had to be written and |
| become in the spiritual sense. | | | | discussed--of the importance of its |
| Non-experience of the higher principles | | | | place in the metaphysical ministry as |
| and realities do not mean that they do | | | | well as its influence upon the |
| not exist, it is just that the faculty | | | | individual and society as a whole. This |
| for higher perception has not yet been | | | | purpose was again stressed in the |
| developed. Fear is what closes the veil | | | | previous chapter. In order to organize |
| to spiritual knowing. When we fear, we | | | | our thoughts regarding the subject, we |
| circumscribe our consciousness. Fear of | | | | formulated several themes that would be |
| the unknown, is the ignorance of the | | | | the basis for the structure of our |
| source of our fear. Identification with | | | | paper. Our fundamental themes consisted |
| mortal principles simply perpetuates (or | | | | of the following: |
| perpetrates?) one's mortal existence as | | | | 1) The survival of personal |
| a normal human being--and it also | | | | consciousness |
| maintains one's fears. We are meant to | | | | 2) The process of transition |
| be perfect--as advised by the Piscean | | | | 3) The nature of life after so-called |
| Master--perfect in consciousness, in | | | | death |
| knowledge, and in awareness. Attaining | | | | The structure of our findings and of |
| immortality, or awareness of such, | | | | this paper, was based upon four |
| requires the shedding of mortal | | | | perspectives: |
| concepts, beliefs, attitudes and | | | | 1) Religion/mythology |
| feelings. With such spiritual labour we | | | | 2) The occult tradition |
| gradually build the link between the | | | | 3) Tibetan Buddhism |
| lower and higher principles and ensure | | | | 4) Parapsychology |
| the continuity of consciousness, and the | | | | From each perspective, we initially |
| awareness of the illusory nature of | | | | dealt with the basic themes from a |
| death. With each extermination of a | | | | certain point of view, but ended up with |
| false concept we become more alive in a | | | | the same findings, the same conclusions, |
| spiritual sense. Death, "the last | | | | and the same cosmic truths; |
| enemy," as declared in scriptures, | | | | nevertheless, among the above |
| though inevitable, will be swallowed up | | | | perspectives, there is still much to be |
| in victory when once its maya-nature is | | | | said about religion as a whole that has |
| understood and the continuity of | | | | somewhat misrepresented the spiritual |
| consciousness acquired. Death will then | | | | truths as taught by their founders. We |
| lose its sting. Death ends when once the | | | | are certain, though, that every |
| multidimensionality of one's being is | | | | metaphysician would research into this |
| realized, and when once one's liberation | | | | subject sooner or later as it is |
| from the wheel of reincarnation is | | | | mentally and spiritually rewarding. In |
| attained. What we call death is an | | | | years to come "death" will be a time of |
| illusion. This is echoed in the words of | | | | celebration and not a time of mourning |
| the Taoist poet, Chuang Tzu: | | | | as it is now. |
| "Birth is not a beginning, death is not | | | | Finally, in the fifth chapter, we |
| an end." | | | | discussed on humanity's basic |
| Fear simply robs individuals of their | | | | psychological problem--that of senseless |
| physical, emotional, mental and | | | | fear. We have seen how this fear robs |
| spiritual energies--energies which could | | | | man of his or her true life as a divine |
| be used for more constructive and | | | | son or daughter of God living an |
| creative purposes. When enlightened of | | | | abundant life in the here and now. We |
| the nature of death, like Socrates, we | | | | have also briefly discussed how the |
| will not fear it; and this knowledge, | | | | elimination of the fear of death would |
| understanding, and enlightenment would | | | | transform the individual and society as |
| greatly help humanity to live an | | | | a whole. |
| abundant life, as promised by Master | | | | To sublimate and transcend this fear |
| Jesus. Like a chain effect, the | | | | condition that overwhelms society we |
| awareness of the non-existence of death | | | | suggest that additional research be |
| and the truth of man's purpose for being | | | | conducted into along the lines of |
| would improve the quality, nature, and | | | | soul-investigation, and into the many |
| service of every governmental department | | | | other principles of the bardo process |
| and institution, affecting society's | | | | not discussed or discovered by Tibetan |
| consciousness, development and welfare. | | | | Lamas. Ways of researching into this |
| But to return to the emotion of fear | | | | should be conducted in a scientific and |
| ingrained in Man, there are several | | | | intuitive manner, though this may not |
| principles that assist one to "die" | | | | always be through conventional methods. |
| without fear: | | | | Researchers should not fear probing into |
| 1) Non-attachment to physical form, | | | | the invisible, into the immaterial, or |
| earthly possessions, and relationships. | | | | into the abstract. Through research |
| 2) Understanding that death is natural | | | | within a single avenue, other |
| and that it does not end one's | | | | possibilities will present themselves. |
| aspirations. | | | | An answer to a single question begets |
| 3) Understanding and being aware of | | | | many more questions, ad infinity; thus |
| one's true nature as divine and | | | | humanity progresses. |
| immortal. | | | | Bibliography |
| 3) Preparation through spiritual | | | | Agrippa, Henry Cornelius 1995 Three |
| practices such as meditation, | | | | Books of Occult Philosophy. Llewellyn |
| purification, and the acquisition of | | | | Publications, St. Paul, MN. |
| merit through service. | | | | Bailey, Alice 1972 A Treatise on White |
| 4) The unfoldment of love and | | | | Magic. Lucis Publishing Company, London. |
| compassion. | | | | Barrie, Donald C. 1991 You Need Not Age |
| From a higher perspective, death is no | | | | Nor Die! Finbarr International, |
| enemy. It is a merciful friend that | | | | Folkestone, England. |
| grants us rest at a time when we need | | | | Budge, E.A. Wallis (Trans) 1953 Book of |
| it. It provides a moment's respite until | | | | the Dead, The. Routledge & Kegan Paul, |
| we re-engage ourselves in the battle of | | | | Ltd. London. |
| life through another incarnation with | | | | Chaney, Earlyne 1989 Mystery of Death |
| new--or old, unlearned experiences. What | | | | and Dying, The. Samuel Weiser, York |
| is important is the assimilation of | | | | Beach, Maine. |
| experience, for if it does not take | | | | Currie, Ian 1995 You Cannot Die. Element |
| place, it will have to be undergone | | | | Books Ltd, Dorset, England. |
| again and again until the lesson | | | | Drolma, Delog Dawa 1995 Delog: Journey |
| inherent in each one is learnt by the | | | | to Realms Beyond Death. Padma |
| soul; this can sometimes prove to be | | | | Publishing, Junction City, CA. |
| wearisome. Life on earth should not be | | | | Evans-Wentz, W.Y. (ed) 1975 Tibetan Book |
| seen as a chance happening, as a | | | | of the Dead, The. Oxford University |
| biological occurrence in time and space, | | | | Press, England. |
| or as a chemical formation spawned by | | | | Lauf, Detlief Ingo 1989Secret Doctrines |
| chaotic forces. Life is Real, is the | | | | of the Tibetan Books of the Dead. |
| only Reality and has a definite purpose. | | | | Shambhala Publications, Inc., Dorset, |
| Knowing that life was formed on the | | | | England. |
| earth plane for a purpose encourages the | | | | Liverziani, Filipo 1991 Life, Death & |
| soul to discover that purpose. | | | | Consciousness. Prism Press, Dorset, |
| Soul-objective is known to the | | | | England. |
| awareness-principle at deeper levels of | | | | Lodo, Lama 1987Bardo Teachings: The Way |
| consciousness and at the conscious level | | | | of Death and Rebirth, Snow Lion |
| prior to incarnation. The purpose or | | | | Publications, Ithaca, New York. |
| intent of the Spirit, however, is | | | | Ma`sumian, Farnaz 1995 Life After Death. |
| normally forgotten once the "waters of | | | | Oneworld Publications, Oxford, England. |
| Lethe" is drunk during the process of | | | | Newton, Michael 1995 Journey of Souls. |
| birthing. | | | | Llewellyn Publications, Minnesota. |
| Our main task set by evolution is to be | | | | Poe. Lori M. 1995 Journeys to Worlds |
| aware or more conscious of the | | | | Beyond. The Place of Light Publisher, |
| "unconscious" levels of the mind; thus | | | | Cincinatti, Ohio. |
| transcending the state of mediocrity or | | | | Ramacharaka, Yogi (Year not given) Life |
| mortality. Mortal beings are not | | | | Beyond Death, The. Yogi Publication |
| courageous enough to think, contemplate | | | | Society, Chicago, ILL. |
| or face the conditions of death, they | | | | Rinpoche, Bokar 1993 Death and the Art |
| thus miss the true opportunities that | | | | of Dying, Clearpoint Press, San |
| life affords. When one fears death, one | | | | Francisco, CA. |
| has not yet begun to live. "Death" to | | | | Rinpoche, Chokyi Nyima 1991 Bardo |
| average individuals, is always thought | | | | Guidebook, The. Ranjung Yeshe |
| of in connection with other people and | | | | Publications, Hong Kong. |
| never their own. This refusal to be | | | | Saraydarian, Torkom 1993 Science of |
| spiritually-aware bind souls to an | | | | Meditation, The. Aquarian Educational |
| unproductie life in the cosmic scheme. | | | | Group, Sedona, Arizona. |
| This is the complaint of all mystics | | | | -- 1983 Cosmos in Man. Aquarian |
| concerning the sons of men. In the Old | | | | Educational Group, Sedona, Arizona |
| Testament we read, | | | | Swedenborg, Emanuel 1958 Heaven and its |
| "Man lies down and never rises. They | | | | Wonders and Hell. The Swedenborg |
| rouse not from their sleep." (Job 14:12) | | | | Society, London. |